Steel Mills
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/media/k2/items/src/dd54f2087dd117bdcbdaf97c3cd78c9c.jpg)
U.S. Steel to Permanently Close Hamilton Works Blast Furnace
Written by John Packard
October 30, 2013
U.S. Steel CEO, Mario Longhi told analysts this afternoon that the company will close its Hamilton, Ontario, Canada blast furnace by the end of the year. The company advised they will also close two coke batteries at U.S. Steel Gary Works (#5 & #7).
The coke batteries and rolling mills at Hamilton Works will not be affected by the announcement which was made in unusual fashion during a conference call with steel analysts held this afternoon.
The Hamilton Works facility was originally part of Stelco which U.S. Steel purchased in 2007. They have a sister company located in Ontario which is called U.S. Steel Lake Erie Works.
Both plants have a history of labor strife under U.S. Steel’s ownership.
The Hamilton Works blast furnace is rated at 2,000,000 tons per year and was last relined in 1998. The blast furnace has been shut down since 2010. Only 47 non-union employees are affected according to USS spokesperson Courtney Boone.
The mill does not have a hot strip mill but does have a cold mill and two hot dipped galvanizing lines. According to AIST the cold mill was rated at 1.5 million tons per year and was a 72” wide mill. The “Z-Line” is a 500,000 ton per year automotive quality 72” wide galvanizing facility. The second galvanizing line was a small 200,000 ton per year light gauge (.010”-.0516” 24”to 57”) mill.
U.S. Steel provided Steel Market Update with the following regarding the Hamilton steelmaking operations:
Hamilton Works iron and steelmaking operations have been on temporary idle since late 2010, and our analysis has now led us to the conclusion that a permanent shut down of the Hamilton Works iron and steelmaking operations is necessary.
• The permanent shutdown is effective December 31, 2013.
• The Hamilton Works cokemaking and finishing operations will continue to operate. This decision is a necessary to control our costs in this difficult global economy.
• This difficult decision will affect 47 non-represented employees. Those employees will be provided working notice and the company will endeavor to reassign them. No represented employees will be impacted by the permanent shut down as they have been previously reassigned. 875 employees are at Hamilton Works.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/john-packard.png)
John Packard
Read more from John PackardLatest in Steel Mills
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/stelco.png)
Steel Summit 2024: Stelco CEO reflects on strategy, growth, and sale to Cleveland-Cliffs
In a candid fireside chat with SMU Senior Analyst/Editor David Schollert, Stelco’s CEO Alan Kestenbaum opened up about Stelco’s pending sale to Cliffs, his business strategy, outlook for the industry, and plans for the future. The chat took place on Tuesday, Aug. 24, at the 2024 SMU Steel Summit in Atlanta.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/AISI.png)
AISI: US steel shipments unchanged in July vs. June, down on-year
Domestic steel shipments remained nearly flat in July month over month but fell from a year earlier.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/white_house.png)
Media reports: Biden could block USS sale on national security concerns
President Joe Biden could block the $15-billion sale of U.S. Steel to Japan's Nippon Steel by citing national security concerns That’s according to reporting in the Washington Post and the Financial Times that was later picked up by the New York Times as well as in wire services.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/US_Steel.png)
USS threatens to cut ‘thousands’ of jobs, move HQ if Nippon sale blocked
U.S. Steel could slash thousands of jobs, shift away from integrated steelmaking, and move its headquarters out of Pittsburgh if its acquisition by Nippon Steel isn’t completed, the company’s top executive said. “We want elected leaders and other key decision makers to recognize the benefits of the deal was well as the unavoidable consequences if the deal fails,” company President and CEO David Burritt said in a statement on Wednesday.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/SSAB.png)
CRU: SSAB to expand Mobile plate mill
SSAB plans to spend $12 million to boost production capacity at its electric-arc furnace (EAF) plate mill in Mobile, Ala. The Sweden-based steelmaker will do that by expanding the existing furnace there. Shot blast equipment will also be upgraded. The expanded capacity is expected to come online late next year. The mill currently has an […]